What rituals do you see at weddings and receptions?

[zoebartlett]

Blingergrrrl asked a question in another thread and I thought it might be fun to see what people''s answers are. What rituals do you typcially see at weddings and/or receptions?

The other thread talked about dollar dances.

This isn''t really a ritual, but I''m hearing a lot of people (on PS anyway, not in my real life

) shying away form more traditional weddings and receptions and going with something more relaxed, intimate, informal, etc.


Any other ideas? It would be fun to see what''s typically done in different parts of the country or the world.

 

[Gwyn]

I see alot of bells at the table. The purpose being if you want the bride and groom to kiss, you ring the bell. Some people find this cute, others get annoyed with the bells. I happen to be one of the formers.

I just went to a wedding that had this dance where guests join the bride and groom on the dance floor right after their first dance and each guest who dances is supposed to bring the bride and groom 5 years of good luck. Something like that.

 

[sarahthewarrior]

Date: 4/23/2007 7:12:52 PM
Author: Gwyn
I see alot of bells at the table. The purpose being if you want the bride and groom to kiss, you ring the bell. Some people find this cute, others get annoyed with the bells. I happen to be one of the formers.

I just went to a wedding that had this dance where guests join the bride and groom on the dance floor right after their first dance and each guest who dances is supposed to bring the bride and groom 5 years of good luck. Something like that.

I was going to post this as well--but I happen to be one of the people who finds it annoying. The poor bride and groom at the last wedding I went to couldn''t even eat their dinner in peace because people wouldn''t stop dinging their glasses for them to kiss every 30 seconds (an alternative when bells aren''t provided). I really felt bad for the couple. I think this could be cute, but only when done tastefully. Know thy guests.

I also find the dollar dances a little tacky. People should be able to dance with the bride or groom without ponying up a dollar like it''s a lap dance or something.

Guess I''m just the more traditional type.

 

[Independent Gal]

Some things I''ve seen recently:

At a Shinto wedding, the couple''s first ''acts'' together were giving flowers to the mothers and giving money to a charity. It was lovely!

I had friends who incorporated a southern German tradition that their first act together was to saw a piece of wood, I assume that''s to symbolize cooperation and future industriousness?!? Not sure. I was less excited about that one: "We''re married, honey! Get the saw!"

Another German tradition that sounds like more fun is for the groom''s friends to kidnap the bride and hold her for ransom... I''m told they usually they give her back in exchange for booze. Yikes!

At Jewish weddings the couple is carried around on chairs holding on to each other via a handkerchief. I think that one has to be spontaneous though!

 

[Class n Sass]

Many African American wedding incorporate the tradition of jumping the broom. It stems back to the time when slaves were prevented from marrying. They developed this ritual as a way to unite in ceremony. It represents strength, love, togetherness, loyalty, and respect which is essential for a successful marriage.

 

[laine]

The last wedding I was at had the girl who caught the bouquet dance with the guy who caught the garter (rather than putting it on her leg, which can get awkward/inappropriate, depending on the people involved). The DJ then asked everyone to join them on the dance floor, for a slow dance, saying each couple meant a year of happiness. He then had couples leave the dance floor starting with those together less then a year, then 5 years, etc, till the longest married couples were left. There were two who had been married almost 30 years, one of which was the the grooms parents, so I thought that was pretty cute.

I''m also starting to see traditions like the garter/bouquet toss, grooms cake, even the groom/mom, bride/dad dances happening less.

 

[blingergrrrl]

Date: 4/23/2007 7:00:44 PM
Author:zoebartlett
Blingergrrrl asked a question in another thread and I thought it might be fun to see what people''s answers are. What rituals do you typcially see at weddings and/or receptions?

The other thread talked about dollar dances.

This isn''t really a ritual, but I''m hearing a lot of people (on PS anyway, not in my real life

) shying away form more traditional weddings and receptions and going with something more relaxed, intimate, informal, etc.


Any other ideas? It would be fun to see what''s typically done in different parts of the country or the world.

Thanks Zoebartlett!!